Machine for forming seamless tubes.



HIGGINS. FORMING SEAMLESS TUBES.

MACHINE APPLICATION FILED SEPTZL 190G.

Patented June M, 1910.

- a citizen of the United States, residing at (ion with cooperating dies and operated by provide a mandrel that will expand and re- UNITED STATES PATENT orator...

CAMPBELL P. HIGGINS, F ROSElLLE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO Tit-IE BABCOCK 6r.

WILCOX COMPANY, OF BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATIDN GI NEW JEBSEY.

MACHINE FOR FORMING SEAMLESS TUBES Specification of Letters Patent Patented June Ill/t, bit).

Application filed September 21, 1906. Serial No. 335,688.

Roselle, in the county of Union and State ot New Jersey, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Forming Seamless Tubes, of which the fol lowing is a specification, reference being had. therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in mandrels employed in forming seamless tubes, and is intended to be used in conjunca hydraulic press or other power device.

The main ob ect of the invention is to tain its size while in use and under pressure, and will readily retract when the pressure is relieved or when the movement of its parts conical or otherwise tapered surfaces, havis reversed, so that the mandrel can easily be withdrawn from the tube.

Another object of the invention is to proi vide a. mandrel that can be readily adapted for use in different sizes or diameters. 1

The invention comprisesa mandrel having 1 a continuous core provided with a series of ing holes made through each cone of the core. Through these holes cross-pins are passed having permanent and detachable; heads that secure to the core movable segmental sections that have their inner faces I coned to contact with the conical surfaces of the ('UlQ, and the sectibns are placed end to end so to make practically a continuous ."shatt.

These sections are provided with 1 slots registering with the holes 111 the core.

' The holes in the core are made in the proper place to correspond to the diameter of the tube to be formed, so that when pressure placed on the core the sections expand until the desired size is reached hen the movement of the core is revel. d by a release of i the pressure, or otherwise, the sections retract, which makes the mandrel smaller than the inside'oi the tube, and can. therefore, he

' .tion through line 44 of Fig. 1., showing unandrel to expand to its full size. I mandrel is then forced upward carrying the the cross-pins and clearance between the sections. Fig. 3 is a sectional Gl3"t\il011 showing the mandrel retracted, and sections loose in the tubes.

Referring to the drawings, a core is provided with a plurality of conical surfaces and The core has holes 5 and 6 to fit the cross-pins 7 and 8, which have heads' and 10, the head 9 being termed integral and the head 10 riveted to the pin. The

cross-pins (3 and T extend through sections 12 with their inner faces 13 and 13' eoned to cotiperate with the contracting surfaces.

of he core.

The conical surfaces of the core and cooperating segmental sections, serving to bearing of the sections as required.

The cross-pins fit into longitudinal slots l t, out in the sections 12; the said slots, are

1 also provided with recesses 15, to accommodate the heads of the cross-pins which keep the sections assembled on the core. The sections on the end oi the mandrel have one end 16 rounded in order to facilitate more eflectually the forming operation through the die. The sections being placed end to end form practically a continuous shaft. The clearance spaces 1!) (Fig. 2) between the sections 12 are made suiliciently large and are so arranged that the mandrel expands to full size when the work is being pressed through the die. In Fig. l the mandrel isshown in connection with a die block 2+.

In operation the die block 24 is drawn to one side and a tube having one solid end is placed on the mandrel. When the end of the mandrel is pressed against the solid end of the tubes. as shown. in Fig. l, the sections and cross-pinsare arranged to permit the The tube with it through the die. as also shown in Fig. 1. When the mandrel has pressed the tube through the die, themownnent oi the parts of the nmndrel is reversed and the outer sections retract, as shown in F i which make the mandrel smaller than the tube. and can, therefore. he easily withdrawn. leaving the reduced and lengthened moved trom the press.

This mandrel is adaptable for use with cooperating dies or formers in various opera tions of drawing or pressing, like, for example, producing seamless tubes with parallel or tapered sides from a circular metal plate or other blank form.

What I claim and desire to sccurehy Lettors-Patent is 1.. A mandrel comprising a continuous core made up of a series of conical sections, segmental sections having faces corresponding to the core sections and surrounding the core, said segmental sections having openings therein in alincment with openings in the core, and pins assing through said openings whereby the segmental sections are movably connected to the core.

2. A mandrel comprising a continuous core made up of-a series of conical section's, I

segmental sections surrounding said core and having tapered faces cooperating withthc j tapered surfaces of the core, and cross pins connecting the segmental sections to the core 4 whereby said core and sections are movable relatively to each other in the direction of f the taper.

3. A mandrel comprising a continuous core made up of a series of cones arranged longitudinally and successivelv, surrounding segmental sections having aces inclined to cooperate with the contacting surfaces of the core and forming a sat mtially continnous outer bearing surface, said cones form I ing a complete pircumfercntial support for said segments, and means tor connecting said segments.

(3. A mandrel comprising a continuous core having a plurality of conical surfaces thereon, segmental sections surrounding said surfaces and having inner faces which cooperate with the conical surfaces of the core and. forming a substantially continuous outer bearing surface, the conical surfaces of the core acting by the longitudinal movement to expand the sections outwardly and permit the sections to, retract upon a reverse movement of the core, and means morality con-- necting said sections with the core. said conical surfaces forming a complete circumfen ential support for said'segmental sections.

7. A mandrel comprising a core made up of a series of conical sections, and segmental sections having correspondingly tapered faces and surroundin andvsupported Wholly on said core, and ho ding means consisting of pins carried by the core and projecting into slots in the segmental sections to permit a relative movement between the core and sections.

A mandrel comprising a core made up 1 of a'scries of conical sections and having core having a series of conical sections each sections with the core to permit of longitudi 1 nal and lateral movement of the segmental sections.

'4. A mandrel comprising a core formed of a plurality of longitudinally arranged tacor and pins extendin through said openmovable relatively thereto mounted upon and surroundingsaid members and arrai'igcd end to end, the front end of said sections being cut away to receive the enlargwl end oi arranged end to end and surrounding the conical sections said segments ha ring their an adjacent core member.

A mandrel comprising a contimious said cones and formin a substantially continuous outer bearing surface, and means for connecting said sewztions to the adjacent core 3 members to permit the longitudinal movement of the core and the lateral movement of the segmental sections, said cones forming a of which has a transverse opening there through. so; ients llilVlIlg'Chll' inner faces tapered an contacting with the corresponding surfaces of the core, said segments having slots registering with the openings in the ings into the corresponding slots.

10. A mandrel comprising a core made'up of a series of conical swtions each of which has pins projecting therefrom, and segments inner faces tapered and bearing upon a corresponding conical section and longitudinal slots to receive the ends of said pins.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' I CAMPBELL I. HIGGINS. Witnesses:

Anousan G. Paa'rr, H. S. Cmsxocn, Jr. 

